SEATTLE – Everything the Vikings want to accomplish is still ahead of them after they dug deep to claim a 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field.

It was undoubtedly the most entertaining game the Vikings have played so far this season. Of particular note, quarterback Sam Darnold continues to play the position as well as anyone in the NFL.

The victory, which puts the Vikings in position to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, also brought a number of other highlights.

Here are five takeaways from the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Seahawks:

Sam Darnold was once again the eye-catcher

After falling behind with 4:21 to play, Darnold added another impressive performance to his resume. He started with a short pass to star receiver Justin Jefferson, which gave him a 12-yard gain and got the ball rolling.

Not long after, Darnold noticed that Jefferson had adjusted his route on the fly, and he found him downfield with a perfectly placed ball. It was a 39-yard touchdown and gave the Vikings a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Overall, Darnold completed 22 of 35 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns.

Justin Jefferson took over the game

It’s fitting that Jefferson was the recipient of the touchdown that made the difference, considering he took the lead. He was a force to be reckoned with for the Vikings with 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

Although his touchdown in the final minutes will go down as the story of the game, his touchdown early in the game was also a memorable moment. After catching a pass in the corner of the end zone, Jefferson struck out “The Griddy” like he usually does when he scores. He apparently made too much eye contact with a defender and was reported for taunting.

Let’s just say Jefferson got his revenge later in the game.

The defense showed its depth

The absence of veteran safety Harrison Smith was felt throughout the game as the Vikings rotated reserve safeties Theo Jackson and Bobby McCain. The rotation was with safety Josh Metellus, who played almost exclusively as a linebacker in the box.

The depth was on display on the final drive of the game when Jackson made a huge interception to seal the deal for the Vikings. Coach Kevin O’Connell has always preached the ability to step up when needed this season.

It sounds like Smith will be available for the Vikings next week when they host the Green Bay Packers. There’s also a possibility that Smith’s return coincides with the activation of linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. from injured reserve.

Will Reichard was perfect

If there were any doubts about rookie kicker Will Reichard since his return from injured reserve, he has put them to rest in the last few weeks. He was perfect in extremely difficult conditions for the Vikings, finishing the season 2-2 on field goals and 3-3 on extra points.

Reichard’s field goals from 52 yards and 48 yards were impressive, and he also hit a long extra point after the aforementioned Jefferson taunting penalty in the end zone.

A few costly losses on defense

There were a few deficiencies on defense that could have changed the Vikings’ game.

There was a chance for cornerback Shaq Griffin to record an interception in the red zone against his former team, and also a chance for linebacker Blake Cashman to record an interception and perhaps return it for a big gain.

In both cases, Griffin and Cashman dropped the ball.